If you have any special or heavy items of baggage, or extra baggage which is over your free allowance, you should be aware of what arrangements you need to make before you travel.
Find out more about:
Excess baggage
- Any items over your free checked piece and weight allowance will be charged as excess baggage.
- There is a maximum allowance of 10 excess bags per passenger.
- Where applicable, we recommend that you pre-pay online for your excess baggage before check in, using Manage My Booking
- You can receive a discount on airport charges by pre-paying online.
- You can also pay for excess baggage at the airport.
- You must pay for your excess baggage either online or at the airport before you check in.
- Please make sure you arrive at check in at least 20 minutes earlier than the recommended check in time when travelling with excess baggage.
- All items must fit within the dimensions of (H+W+L): 158cm (62in).
- We will not accept any items exceeding 32kgs with the following exceptions: Musical instruments, TV news cameras and commercial spares. If the item weighs between 32kg and 45kg and cannot be broken down to smaller items, it will be treated as two pieces of checked baggage. If you are travelling with any of these items, please notify us at the time of booking, or at a minimum of 24 hours before departure.
- Baggage means your personal property accompanying you on your flight. Unless we say otherwise, this consists of your checked and unchecked baggage.
- Checked baggage is baggage which we have taken into our custody and for which we have issued a baggage identification tag or a baggage check or both. (Checked baggage travels in the hold of the aircraft.)
- We will not accept merchandise or any items for commercial purposes as checked baggage.
Please note: Checked baggage allowances on codeshare, oneworld and alliance partners may differ. Charges may apply.
Excess baggage rates
All baggage in excess of free checked baggage allowances is charged at a fixed fee depending on the length of the journey.
A flat fee of GBP 25 will be applied to any checked bag weighing more than 23kg (51lbs). Any item weighing more than 32kg (70lbs) cannot be accepted as checked baggage.
Customers on most routes can pre-pay online for their excess baggage and receive a discount on airport charges.The pre-pay facility can be accessed through Manage My Booking. Pre-pay is not available on certain routes, and some credit cards cannot be used as payment methods.
To qualify for the discount, Pre-pay must be completed before check in, including before completing Online check-in.
Excess baggage charges
| Longhaul | Shorthaul | UK Domestic |
|---|
| £90 per bag or £72 per bag if paid online (includes 20% discount) | £35 per bag or £28 per bag if paid online (includes 20% discount) | £25 per bag or £20 per bag if paid online (includes 20% discount) |
For customers transferring flights within 24 hours, a single charge based on the longest flight applies.
Please note: Excess baggage charges on codeshare, oneworld and alliance partners may differ.
Unaccompanied baggage
- Any item exceeding 32kg will need to be transported as unaccompanied baggage.
- You can pre-arrange this through British Airways World Cargo or your local freight company.
- Your baggage may or may not travel on the same flight as you.
What you need to do to use British Airways World Cargo
- Contact British Airways World Cargo to pre-book the unaccompanied baggage service, for which there is a charge.
- Leave enough time to deliver your baggage to the World Cargo office, which may be located far from the passenger terminal.
- Deliver your baggage to the World Cargo office at Heathrow or Gatwick from six hours to three hours before your flight departs. Delivery times at other airports may vary, so please contact the relevant British Airways World Cargo office for more information.
- Lock your bags and hand the keys to British Airways.
Door to door baggage service
Prefer to 'travel light'? Our partner First Luggage will collect your bags from your home or office, prior to your departure, and deliver them to your destination.